By Philip Yatai
THE FEDERAL Capital Territory chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday, resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues between it and the six area councils of the territory.
The union declared the strike in a communique signed by its Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Shaf; State Secretary, Mrs Margaret Jethro and State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
The strike was a continuation of earlier ones suspended by the union in October 2023 and in January 2024.
The union, in the communiqué issued in Abuja, explained that the action was the outcome of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting, held on Tuesday.
It added that the SWEC had deliberated on the elapsed 14-day ultimatum given to the area councils’ chairmen to pay the teachers their entitlements.
“The SWEC, therefore, resolved and directed all the primary school teachers in the FCT to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Wednesday, Sept. 18.
“All public primary schools in FCT should remain closed and parents are hereby advised to remain guided by this development until the union’s demands are met.
“We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as directed by the union,” it added.
The union identified one of the unresolved issues as non-payment of 60 per cent of the 25 months old minimum wage areas.
Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
The union were also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCT Minister had intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent of the outstanding 25 months minimum wage arrears.
As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the minimum wage arrears.
The teachers acknowledged and applauded Wike for redeeming the 40 per cent pledge and frowned at the area councils’ chairmen for failing to fulfil their part of the agreement.
Reacting to the development, Dr Hassan Sule, acting Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), appealed to the NUT to suspend the strike.
Sule said that discussion with the chairmen of the area councils was ongoing to resolve the issues. (NAN)
